UPERC Proposes To Change Eligibility Criteria For Open Access

UPERC Proposes To Change Eligibility Criteria For Open Access

The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has now come up with a new draft regulation to bring amendments to its Open Access Rules of 2019. It has asked the stakeholders to submit their responses to the draft regulations by August 29, 2024.

The state power regulator, in its latest draft regulation has proposed to amend the timelines for medium term open access and long-term open access. The new draft regulations also talked about imposing new penalties for underutilization and reduction of power demand under open access for short term supplies. 

The details of the discussion paper revealed that the UPERC has proposed to increase the minimum time period for open access under medium term from three months to 11 months. On the other hand, it has also decreased the maximum time period under this category from five years to three years. 

UPERC has proposed to bring these changes in the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and Conditions for Open Access) Regulations, 2019. The new draft rules also batted for including several new provisions brought by the Union government including the norms of Green Energy Open Access which reduced the eligibility criteria of open access consumers upto 100 KW. 

The new rules also talked about a 75% open access charge if a consumer reduces or under utilizes the power in the short-term open access connections. 

“In case of reduction or cancellation due to underutilization of the open access capacity under Regulation 15.4, open access customer shall be liable to pay 75% of applicable open access charges for such period of reduction or cancellation in addition to full open access charges on revised capacity during remaining period of transaction,” the UPERC’s proposed rules read. 

The new proposed rules also talked about discounts in additional surcharge, cross subsidy if the green power is produced from waste to energy and offshore wind. On the other hand, the new rules also said that if the energy is used for the production of Green Hydrogen or Green Ammonia, the consumers would be eligible for these benefits.